ODDS and EVENS | World Cup Challenge Begins for Samurai Blue

Japan enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup buoyed by positive memories of beating past tournament champions Germany and Spain in group stage matches four years ago in Qatar. But at the same time, the soccer squad’s focus is on its present challenge, not on past triumphs.

The Samurai Blue fell short of their goal of reaching the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 2022, losing 3-1 on penalties to Croatia in the round of 16.

Manager Hajime Moriyasu’s skillful blending of veteran mainstays and up-and-coming players has revamped the squad since the quadrennial tournament was held in the Middle East for the first time.

Japan, currently ranked 18th in the world, has had a pair of notable feel-good victories in the run-up to the World Cup. But keep in mind that international friendlies have little meaning in the grand scheme of things. That said, there’s certainly value in competing against ― and beating ― Brazil (a 3-2 come-from-behind triumph in Tokyo in October 2025) and England (a 1-0 victory on March 31 in London).

Japan defender Ko Itakura (left), midfielder Ao Tanaka and other teammates train on June 10 in Nashville. (©KYODO)

Getting Ready for the World Cup

Samurai Blue defender Shogo Taniguchi spoke about the team’s pre-tournament mindset on Wednesday, June 10.

“I fully understand friendlies and the first match of the World Cup are totally different animals,” Taniguchi said at Japan’s training headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, according to Kyodo News. “We’ll strive together and adjust until the very last moment in analyzing our opponents.”

The expanded 48-nation World Cup (it previously featured 32 squads) kicks off this week in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In Group F, Japan meets the Netherlands to open its World Cup campaign on Sunday, June 14 (Monday at 5 AM JST) in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas.

The Netherlands, No 8 in the latest world rankings, reached the semifinals at the 2024 European Championship.

Although the team has never won the World Cup, it has finished as the runner-up three times, most recently in 2010 against Spain. It also fell to West Germany in the 1974 title match and to Argentina in ’78.

Previous Showdown at the World Cup

In 2010, Group E foes Japan and the Netherlands met in Durban, South Africa. Wesley Sneijder propelled the Dutch to a 1-0 victory with a 53rd-minute goal.

Prior to that encounter on football’s biggest stage, the national teams competed in a friendly in September 2008, with the Dutch winning 3-0 in Enschede, Netherlands.

And in November 2013, they settled for a 2-2 draw in Genk, Belgium. Defender Yuto Nagatomo was in the starting lineup for Japan, and he’s now preparing for his fifth World Cup, a national record.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk also serves as captain of the Netherlands national team. (©Phil Noble/via REUTERS)

Keep an Eye on Dutch Star Van Dijk

In the run-up to the 2026 World Cup, ESPN published “World Cup Rank: The 50 best players in the 2026 tournament” on its website. The article provides a stellar overview of standout footballers set to compete in North America.

Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, who plays club soccer for English Premier League side Liverpool, is the second-highest-ranked player in ESPN’s analysis piece among Japan’s three Group F opponents. He’s No 36, Ryan O’Hanlon wrote.

Also making ESPN’s top 50 is Sweden forward Alexander Isak, who is 35th.

Japan is scheduled to play world No 45 Tunisia on June 20 (1 PM JST on the 21st), followed by 38th-ranked Sweden on June 25 (8 AM JST on the 26th).

Current preparations revolve around the Netherlands. One match at a time is the blueprint for success.

Based on his experience and talent, van Dijk will be a central plank of Japan’s game plan.

Clearly, manager Moriyasu and Samurai Blue players are well aware of the Liverpool captain’s ability to exert influence on a match.

“John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Vincent Kompany, Nemanja Vidic. Virgil van Dijk. These are the five players on almost every list of the top center-backs in the history of the Premier League,” Noel Chomyn wrote in a recent SB Nation article. “For most, van Dijk is battling it out with Terry and Ferdinand for the top three.”

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk trains on June 10 in Kansas City, Missouri. (©Denny Medley/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS)

Outlook for the Dutch

The Dutch played their final tuneup match for the World Cup on June 8 in New York against Uzbekistan. After escaping with a 2-1 win ― getting the tiebreaking goal in second-half injury time ― Netherlands manager Richard Koeman’s team is now preparing for Japan.

“How far can we go? Hopefully all the way,” Dutch captain van Dijk was quoted as saying by Kyodo News at the team’s training facility in Kansas City, Missouri. “We know how difficult it will be, but our full focus will be on Japan first and foremost.”

Van Dijk, who turns 35 on July 8, described Japan as a “very good [team], disciplined with lots of quality.”

Striving for Success

Days before his first World Cup match as Japan’s captain, veteran midfielder Wataru Endo said he and his teammates are aiming to make history at the tournament.

Reaching the quarterfinals for the first time has been a target that players and team staff have spoken about again and again.

On June 8, Endo, who made his national team debut in 2015, provided a reminder of Japan’s ambitious goals.

“We will do our best with pride and passion to achieve something that we’ve never seen before in Japan’s soccer history,” Endo, another Liverpool standout, said, according to The Associated Press.

In recent years, there have been positive signs that Japan is moving closer to the upper echelon of global soccer. At the same time, Moriyasu continues to challenge the players to chase lofty goals.

“I’ve told the players that, while they should strive to improve individually, they mustn’t forget the importance of teamwork, which is fundamental to our success,” Moriyasu was quoted as saying by The Yomiuri Shimbun. “There’s still a gap between Japan and the world’s top teams, but I’m confident we’re getting stronger.”

How strong is Japan’s 2026 World Cup squad?

The first clues will arrive in a few days in its first-round match against the Netherlands.

Author: Ed Odeven

Follow Ed’s [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.